The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-07
ILL-USED STRENGTH:
Or the Lesson Taught the Boy Who Was
"Too Strong" and Broke Every Thing
He Touched.


Or the Lesson Taught the Boy Who Was
"Too Strong" and Broke Every Thing
He Touched.
1t seemed that Gcoff was the most
unfortunate boy in the world, for he
was nearly always in trouble. And yet he
was not exactly bad boy, for he did
not wish to displease his mother, and
was a great deal happier when they
praised than when they blamed him.
Sometimes when lie sat down TO think,
which was not often, he tried to find
out the reason Of his misfortune, and
one day he thought he had it.
al am too strong" he said. THAT is
what is the matter with me. AS soon
rs touch a thing it seems to break. Only
to-day took hold of a plate, l think
it must have been cracked, but, at all
events, it came in two in my hand, and
of course got the blame of breaking
it. 1t must be because L am q great
strong fellow. Fred is different; he
would not have broken the plate if he
| had held it for an hour; but then he has
no strength at all in his hands. Mother,
the best thing you can do is to starve
me a little, and then, perhaps, you
would not have to call me breaking
boy"
Before Gcoff's mother could answer,
his sister spoke:
at is very well for you to try to dis
pose of the matter in that way" she
said; but surely you know that it is
not your strength, but your awkward
ness, which is in fault"
Il don't know. Let me prove it to
YOU" said Geofl. Look here, [ take
up this doll"
Geotf was interrupted by q scream.
His little sister, Annie, flew to the res
cue of her favorte.
80, Geof, put down that doll! be-
lieve if you only look at her she will
break. Now, see, she is broken"
Annie began to cry, and poor Geoff
looked sheepish. But he tried to COM
fort his little sister, and wished fer
vently that Ii had half a do lar in his
pocket at the moment to give her.
Il declare 1 only gently tried to
straighten the dolls arms, and one of
them must needs come off directly. It's
too bad that dolls arms should be
made so soft and weak. If | had a
doll, she should be strong"
Nothing but an iron doll would do
for you," said Annie, Eesentfully;
'and l believe you would contrive to
break that somehow or other"
Now don't be cross, Annie. A
broken arm is not nearly as bad as
broken head. But is it not strange
that can not touch a thing without
breaking it?'
That is not quite the case" said
GeOff mother.
You do not break every thing that
you touch, and | suppose it is only the
fragile things that come to grief. But
you need to practice gchtleness, my
boy. You have large and strong hands,
and you use unnecessary force. Only
this morning when you took my arm
in the garden you seized it rs if it were
something that would slip away, or
something heavy that needed all your
power to retain it. If my arm had
been not soft, am not sure that it also
would not have been broken"
80 mother, am sorry. Did really
hurt you?"
"a little, Geof'; but did not mind
it, and l only speak Of it in the hope
that you may be careful in future"
Il declare" said Nellie, 'that if
Geoir catches hold of my arm when we
are at play, it is always black and blue
for day or two afterwards"
"Nonsenser' said Geoff; but he look
ed very sorry and panied.
II am sure, mother, something must
be done, he said presently; ''you must
put me on short commons, and then,
perhaps, shall get thin and weak"
"But, my boy, do not want you to
get thin and weak. Strong hands are
needed in this world, and hope yours
will do some good and useful work
when you are u little older. You must
try to cultivate n kindly heart and a
thoughtful spirit, and then you will
know in time how much force is needed
to do or to hold things. shall be glad
when the time comes, for it is very ex-
pensive to have a breaking boy in the
family.
Poor Geoff did try; but the next day
he was even more unfortunate than he
had honn bnforo-for thiS tiu,o bo broLa
himself ....
He was in an apple tree, having vol
unteered TO go and gather the apples;
but, instead of taking care of himself,
he went to work with all the energy
and carelessness which he would have
exhibited if he had been on firm
ground, and the consequence was that